‘Dilshan didn’t test positive for doping’

Rumours do not seem to spare Sri Lankan cricket team these days and the latest player to find himself at the centre of attention was star batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan.

There was news about the opening batsman failing a mandatory random dope test conducted by the International Cricket Council, a routine procedure during the ICC-conducted events. However, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) swiftly denied the rumour, saying there was no truth in the reports. “I don’t know from where the news is coming from. Dilshan has never been tested. Only two players (Chamara Silva & Ajantha Mendis) have been tested so far and nothing has found amiss,” said Nishantha Ranatunga, secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket. Sri Lankan vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene, who along with Thilan Samraweera were earlier alleged by a television channel to have involved in spot-fixing during their match against Pakistan, too laughed off the story. “I don't know how he can test positive because he has not been tested at the World Cup. The only two players from our team that were tested were Ajantha Mendis and Chamara Silva after our last game against Australia. Before that no one was tested. So, Dilshan was not tested for doping, but I don't know if he had been tested for something else.” Jayawardene told reporters on Wednesday.  Lankan team manager Brian Thomas clarified: “These are just false reports as Mahela said there were only two players were tested and nothing found wrong during their tests,” Thomas said.    Shane Warne is the only player to have failed a drugs test at a World Cup, having tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride prior to the 2003 edition of the event in South Africa.

SHAHID AFRIDI: UMAR AKMAL MAY KEEP WICKETS FOR PAKISTAN INSTEAD OF KAMRAN AKMAL

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi hinted that wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal may be replaced by his younger brother Umar Akmal in their remaining matches of the ICC World Cup 2011.

Afridi stated, “We have five days now before our next game, so whatever is better for the team we will try it.” However, the Pakistani captain didn’t doubt the commitment from the troubled wicketkeeper.

He added, “If you see him train, he puts in a lot of hard work. I don't know why but luck has deserted him. He is also upset about his performance [against New Zealand] and he realizes it too.”

Pakistan lost to New Zealand in their match yesterday by a massive margin of 110 runs. The main reason for the loss was an unbeaten 131 runs off 124 balls from Ross Taylor, who helped his team score 102 runs in the last five overs.

However, Taylor didn’t achieve this feat without luck favouring him. He was given two chances by Kamran, who dropped him on 0 and 4. Both chances came off the bowing of veteran fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

This was not the first time that Kamran had let his team down in this tournament. Earlier, he missed two stumping chances of Kumar Sangakkara in a match against Sri Lanka. The unlucky bowler on that occasion was left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman.

However, Pakistan went on to win that match by a narrow margin of 11 runs, and Kamran’s performance did not affect the outcome of that match.

Waqar Younis, who is head coach of the Pakistan cricket team, was also not happy with the glove work of Kamran. However, Waqar claimed that it would not be a suitable thing to pressurise the player during the tournament, but he added that Kamran's future would be decided once the mega event is over.

The men-in-green will have to rethink their strategies and team combination as soon as possible, as they are left with just two matches before the start of the knock-out stages.

Pakistan will play Zimbabwe on the 14^th of March, and Australia on the 19^th of the same month. The team will be hoping to get back to winnings ways ahead of the quarterfinals.

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'Team lacks planning'

Former Test cricketer, Sarfarz Nawaz Monday predicted that Pakistan had fifty-fifty chances in the ongoing 10th ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and said that there was a need to make comprehensive planning for the rest of the competitions.
While talking to Daily Mail he further added that Pakistan performed well in the first three matches against minnows Kenya and Canada. “However, victory against Sri Lanka was not enough remarkable. Pakistan did enormous mistake, which should be overcome in the next game but unfortunately our team repeated tee same errors against Canada and Pakistan saved the blushes after a hard work in the field, “he maintained.
Sarfarz said that team was lacking in planning against lowly ranked Canada and this performance exposed the working of team management especially coach Waqar Younis. “We have to plan for the Tuesday (today) match to overcome the Kiwis, as the weather of the Pallekelle will also be suitable for them, “he observed.
“Solitary Shahid Afridi is doing well with the ball and there should be a nice pacer attack for the match against high ranked international cricket teams. We are also not performing well in the fielding and muffing the easy chances, which may be harmful in the vital encounters. Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal is wasting easy stump occasion and catches as well and this is not a positive sign, “he asserted.
Responding to a question former pacer said that batting was also not setting well for the internationals competitions, however, the top players had to show responsibility. “Pakistan team is facing opening pair problem and Kamran Akmal is also not playing such type of cricket which should be displayed by number three batsman. Hafeez and Shahzad should concentrate on their game, “he said.
“Abdul Razzak is playing as batsman but he came at number eight. This is not fair and he should come earlier to show his batting abilities. Pakistan should enter into the ground with three pacers and one spinner and Afridi should be the fifth bowler. One from Abdul Rehman and Saeed Ajmal should be selected in last elevens, “he suggested.

Imran for cricket team to learn lesson from mistakes

 Former Captain Pakistan cricket team, Imran Khan on Wednesday asked the national team to keep their spirit high and tried to learn lesson from the mistakes so as to reclaim the world cup.

"I think by this time we don't have any option, so we should further groom and train players including Kamran Akmal, a wicketkeeper of national team," he said.

Commenting on Pakistan's defeat against New Zealand in the world cup match, he told a news channel,

"I think if we could learn from the mistakes we could reclaim the world cup. The spirit matters more; if our boys could keep their spirit high the result would be positive."

He suggested there should be a change in the batting order, saying Kamran Akmal should be the opener; Abdul Razzaq should be 3rd while Younus Khan should be forth.

"We placed Abdul Razzaq at 7th when he could do nothing when match had already turned in favor of New Zealand, we are still qualified for the quarter-final and now there are six teams in the arena who could win the title and Pakistan is one of them," he added.

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No need to panic but play according to situation: Akram to Pak

There is no need for Pakistan to press the panic button following the morale-shattering defeat against New Zealand but the skipper must have plan B ready if pre-planned things go wrong, fast bowling great Wasim Akram said on Wednesday.

"I think we lost the match when New Zealand very intelligently took their batting power-play. Our think-tank panicked and exhausted the overs of all the main bowlers including our best bowler Umar Gul and that led to mayhem," Akram said.

"I think there is a clear need for the captain to handle the pressure on the field when the situation changes. At times I get the feeling that everything is decided before hand and when things to start go wrong there is no change of mind or the inclination to take decisions as the situation warrants," he told Geo Super Channel.

He also advised the Pakistan team to rely more on their bowling strength and remain in attacking mode.

"The team is good and if the combinations are right we can still go a long way in this tournament. No need to panic." Akram also urged the cricket crazy fans not to overreact after the big defeat.

"I would like to appeal to our people not to take any defeat or bad performance to heart and react like the Bangladeshi fans did. Our team is a good team but in sports the other team also comes into win. We must learn to be patient and back our players all the way. I don't think hooliganism of any sort should be tolerated in any sports."

"I have never subscribed to this sort of reaction by the cricket lovers. They must understand that at the end of the day it is sports and even players can have really bad days but these same players also bring lot of joy and celebration for their countrymen," he noted.

He also expressed disappointment over the stoning of the West Indies team bus in Dhaka by angry Bangladeshi cricket fans after the hosts by a big margin last week. "Wherever such incidents happen it is most unfortunate because players lives are at stake and the organizers must make security for the teams tighter," he said.

Wasim, who himself has twice come under fire and had his home in Lahore attacked by angry cricket fans after the 1996 and 1999 World Cups when he was captain said the most unfortunate part was that miscreants targeted families of the players.

PCB ISSUES CENTRAL CONTRACTS TO PLAYERS

Pakistan Cricket Board awards Central Contracts to the following players in A, B and C Categories. These Contracts are for a period of 6 months from 1st January to 30th June, 2011, and will be reviewed again for the next 6 months. Players awarded Central Contracts for the first 6 months are as follows:

Category “A”     

1.       Younus Khan

2.       Misbah-Ul-Haq

3.       Shahid Khan Afridi

4.       Abdul Razzaq

5.       Kamran Akmal

6.       Umar Gul

7.       Shoaib Akhtar

Category “B”

8.       Muhammad Hafeez

9.       Umar Akmal

10.     Abdul Rehman

11.      Saeed Ajmal

12.     Wahab Riaz

Category “C”     

13.     Taufiq Umar

14.     Asad Shafiq

15.     Ahmed Shahzad

16.     Azhar Ali

17.     Adnan Akmal

18.     Tanvir Ahmed

19.     Junaid Khan
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